Preview: Ukraine v Romania
10/04/2024 10:30
Eight Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Qualifiers take place from 12-13 April. The winners will seal a place at November's season-ending Finals in Seville alongside defending champions Canada, 2023 runners-up Italy, hosts Spain and wild card recipients Czechia. Here is a preview of the Ukraine v Romania tie
By Kevin Palmer
The Racquet Park Drive at Amelia Island, Fernandina Beach, USA, will host an intriguing clash between Ukraine and Romania.
Playing on neutral soil adds to the challenge facing Ukraine's players, but a motivation to give their fans some cheer in what are challenging times for the nation adds to their desire for success in this competition.
Ukraine are ranked at No. 18 in the Billie Jean King Cup Rankings and are aiming to reach the Finals for the first time since this competition was revamped. Romania are ranked No. 12.
TEAMS NAMED
Ukraine: Elina Svitolina, Lesia Tsurenko, Liudmyla Kichenok, Nadiia Kichenok, Yuliia Starodubtseva
Romania: Ana Bogdan, Jaqueline Cristian, Anca Todoni, Mara Gae
HEAD TO HEAD
This will be the fourth meeting between the two nations and the first since 2014, with Romania winning three of the four ties.
Romania won the most recent meeting, with Simona Halep winning her singles match to seal a 2-0 victory in a tie staged in Budapest.
Ukraine's last win against Romania was in 2003, when Tatiana Perebiynis and Yuliya Beygelzimer won a decisive doubles match.
STORY OF 2023
Turkiye was the host nation for Ukraine's tie against a strong Czechia side in last April's Qualifiers, with Marketa Vondrousova halting a stirring fightback from Ukraine to seal her nation's place in the Finals.
Marta Kostyuk beat world No. 12 Barbora Krejcikova to fuel Ukraine's quest for an upset, but Vondrousova ended their hopes of a victory after a second singles win.
Ukraine bounced back from that setback by beating the Netherlands in a Play-Off tie staged in Lithuania.
Romania's defeat in the Qualifiers against Slovenia last April proved to be a significant moment in last season's Billie Jean King Cup.
Romania appeared to be on their way to the Finals in Seville after taking a 2-0 lead in the tie, but Slovenia fought back and went on to reach the semi-finals of the competition.
The Romania team then secured their place back in the the Qualifiers with a comfortable 4-0 win against Serbia in the Play-Offs.
MEET THE CAPTAINS
Mikhail Filima has been captain of the Ukrainian team since 2016 and he also had a spell in charge of Ukraine's Davis Cup side. A former professional player, he has made a strong impression since moving into coaching.
Romania captain Horia Tecau is a three-time Grand Slam doubles champion, winning the 2015 Wimbledon title and 2017 US Open title. He also won the mixed doubles title at the 2012 Australian Open.
His highest ranking in doubles was No. 2 and he won 38 career titles, while also winning a silver medal in doubles at the 2016 Olympic Games.
He was named Romania's Billie Jean King Cup captain in March 2022 and admits the challenge of moving from player to captain was a tough adjustment.
"I needed to learn how to communicate in a different way when I took this post, which was interesting," said Tecau. "I was a Davis Cup player for 20 years and I loved the format, but this is a new challenge.
"It's different being a captain, there is much more responsibility. I am learning how to get the girls playing their best. You need to learn what each player likes and how I can get them more prepared for the tie.
"These girls are role models for Romanians who watch tennis and love sport. I want to see them compete hard, with fair play and to win matches."
TALKING POINTS
The Elina Svitolina Foundation manages the Ukrainian women's national team in the Billie Jean King Cup and they selected Omni Amelia Island Resort as the new host site for the tie.
"I am so excited to be part of this exciting opportunity at Omni Amelia Island Resort to bring world-class tennis back to North Florida," said Svitolina, the top-ranked Ukrainian player and former world No. 3.
"Of course, our dream would be holding our home tie in Ukraine, as it has always been, but during the war, it is not possible.
"Bush Tennis Center has been an amazing supporter and partner of the Svitolina Foundation, and to have them supporting us in our first tie as the organising party of the Ukrainian Billie Jean King Cup team means a lot.
"We hope that many people can come out and support us as we take on Romania and really help us create a home atmosphere."
Romania's hopes looked set to be boosted by the news that former world No. 1 Simona Halep was preparing to make her Billie Jean King Cup return in this tie, but she withdrew with a shoulder issue after initially being named in captain's Tecau line-up.
Halep's presence back on the tennis landscape could be significant if Romania can make it through to the Finals in November.
